Iranian postgrad students reflect on life in Kazan

Scholarship awardees from Iran talk to RIR about student life and education in this ethnically diverse city.

Nemat Dabari and Hamid Malakh are second-year Master's
students at the Lobachevsky Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics. Azadeh
Derakhshanfer is in her first year of a Master's degree at the Institute of
Physics. Interestingly, Azadeh came to Kazan with her husband, a student at Tupolev
Kazan State Technical University. They talk to RIR about their experiences in
Kazan.

How did you guys end up as
students at Kazan Federal University?

Nemat

Back home we took a special exam and did well. We planned to
continue studying in Iran, but then found out that the government was offering
the chance to go abroad. KFU was suggested.
We read up on Russia, Kazan, and KFU's proposal, and then decided to
make the trip. That was in 2011.

It was my first trip abroad. It was spring, great weather.
Bauman Street was the first road I saw. I was amazed. In these past 3 years my
attitude to Kazan hasn't changed one bit. The next eye-opener was the
incredibly friendly people. I still can't get used to it after 3 years!

How are things with
accommodation?

Nemat:

The first year we
lived in the Universiade Village. That was neat, and very plush. But then we
were moved to an Old Campus residence, because that's where senior and Master's
students live. We didn't like it much. Naturally we wanted to return to the
Village.

Azadeh:

I'm married. As a family we had trouble getting a place in a
hostel, so we now rent an apartment.

What else would you like to
change about your life at college?

Nemat:

In our country
students can have lunch and dinner on campus. Sometimes there's just no time to
cook for yourself. It would be swell if they introduced that here. I know that
Russian students can get food coupons. It would be good if we could too.

Do you get a chance to visit your homeland
every now and again?

Azadeh:

Once or twice a year, at New Year or in summer.

Nemat:

Not last summer, I didn't want to miss the Student Games.

How did you like them?

Nemat:

The best! Only the Iranian team didn't do so well. The
opening and closing ceremonies were superb, simply stunning. I didn't expect
it. My friends in Iran watched it and they all said: “Your Kazan is a great
city!” And I proudly responded: “And what, you thought it was a rough place?”
By the way, about the city. It got a makeover before the Student Games, which
turned out really nice.

What are your plans after
the Master's program? Have you thought about continuing your postgrad studies?

We'd like to, of
course. But it's hard to say, because it doesn't really depend on us, but on
our government and the university.

What advice would you give foreign postgrads
who want to come to Kazan?

Azadeh:

I'd advise them to do
it, no question. But remember that Russian is a very difficult language and you
need to get the basics down before arriving.

Hamid:

It's better to come with a Russian language certificate, and
get it rubberstamped here. That way you won't have to spend a year in language
class and can start your program straight away. I'd also say that Kazan is
lovely. We've seen a few other cities in Russia, and Kazan is the best.

Nemat:

Studying Russian on arrival does have some plus points — you
get real-life contact with native speakers. Russian is everywhere and you learn
how to pronounce words correctly, which really helps.

Hamid:

But best of all is when classes are in English. Students
arrive and start their specialist programs right out of the box, picking up
Russian along the way.